On the Nature of Zim and Dib's Rivalry

But I also know that Dib and Zim aren’t just filled with sheer, savage, boiling hatred to each other, either. I dunno, it seems like they’d consider themselves above that.

You see, as a result of the sheer goofiness and insanity that went into “Invader Zim,” Dib and Zim have a complex relationship, one I honestly haven’t seen in any other story.

From Zim’s point of view, Dib is the only one who can - and I quote - “appreciate [his] strategic masterminding.” It’s not enough for Zim to win, you see. It’s not enough for him to wipe out all life on Earth or enslave the humans. No, that’s not good enough. Zim’s too egotistical for that. He has to be the center of someone’s universe. I really think that, if Zim had his way, he’d come up with an absolutely brilliant evil scheme, one that overshadows and outdoes all his others, one that honestly would make Dib go, “That’s terrible… but- but that’s brilliant! That is awesome! I hate you but that’s amazing!”

Then, and only then, would he finally destroy Dib. Only after he feels he’s broken his spirits and made him genuinely see Zim as Zim sees himself: the greatest, most unstoppable soldier in the universe. Then - BAM! - lights out, cue the evil laughter.

(Hence why “Mopiness of Doom” saw Zim, well, moping: he won, but it wasn’t a fun victory. It was a boring victory. There was no climactic battle, no crying from Dib, not even Dib saying, “You- You monster!” Nope, just him giving up. Come on, how fun is that? Answer: it’s not.)

On the other hand, Dib is… different. He more frequently goes out of his way to spite Zim. Have you noticed that? Zim is (usually, but not always) minding his business, when - BAM! - he’s on the ground, writhing in pain, as Dib laughs at his misery. Why? Simple: Dib hates that Zim’s idiotic disguise actually works, so he does all he can do: lash out at Zim (admittedly, Zim isthe villain here) and hope he can get under his skin.

Dib loves Earth, but at the same time, he hates it. Dib unflinchingly stands loyal to the idiots he’s surrounded by, in spite of how idiotic they are. Even in “Room with a Moose,” when Dib decides to finally save his classmates and himself, it’s not because he particularly feels they’ve earned it, it’s because “Without [him], the Earth is doomed!”

Another factor in Dib’s equation: he’s always trying to “expose” Zim. He’s not trying to kill him, he’s not trying to quietly bring him to an end. No, even though they might be more practical solutions (his dad is the greatest scientist on Earth, for crying out loud! Surely he could easily concoct something actually lethal to the irking little Irken). Why? Answer: It’s not good enough - in Dib’s eyes - to win. He doesn’t want to just stop Zim. No, he wants to be seen doing it. He wants his classmates, his sister, and his father to admire him and cheer him as the savior of mankind (heck, that was the whole point of his tailor-made fantasy in “Dib’s Wonderful Life of Doom”).

If Dib had it his way, everyone would love him and respect him and see him as the hero he sees himself as, and - preferably - Zim would hate him for it. Also, Zim would be forced to watch as Dib is praised for it all. He wants Zim to be absolutely ENRAGED by his victory.

(That’s also why - in “Mopiness of Doom” - Dib couldn’t stand “real science” - it didn’t have any thrill or any chance for heroics for him. Why be Dib the Chemist when you can be Dib the Vampire Slayer, right?)

So, there you have it (in my opinion) - Zim wants Dib to be absolutely awestruck by his evil, and only THEN would he move on to actually killing Dib (after he does the same to the entire human race while Dib watches, of course).

Dib wants Zim to hate him for being victorious and thwarting his invasion, but - more importantly - he wants Earth to see and love him for being the hero he always has seen himself as.